Landowner Assistance Program

Fostering Stewardship in the Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System

The Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System is pleased to offer a private landowner assistance program through the Hamilton-Halton Watershed Stewardship Program. The purpose of this program is to encourage and assist private landowners to become stewards of their own lands within the Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System area.

Objectives of the program are to:

Inspire landowners to become good stewards of natural areas and watercourses;

Educate rural and urban landowners about the importance of protecting natural areas and watercourses; and

Support landowners as they take responsibility for the protection and rehabilitation of natural areas and watercourses on their property.

What is Stewardship?

Stewardship is the recognition of a collective responsibility to retain the quality and abundance of land, air, water and biodiversity, and to manage this natural capital in a way that conserves all of its environmental, economic, social and cultural values.

- Alberta Stewardship Council

Why is this important?

The Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System is a biodiversity hotspot in Canada. It is home to over 1,500 species of plants and animals and over 50 species at risk. This incredible natural heritage is one of the primary reasons for establishing the Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System.

Beside and between Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System lands are properties owned by private landowners. Conserving and caring for the natural heritage on these adjacent properties support preservation of natural heritage on the ecopark system lands. Developing a community of strong environmental stewards will ensure further protection and preservation of the area’s natural heritage. For more information, please see: Natural Heritage

How we can assist you

Established with seed funding support from the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation, the Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System now has a full-time Stewardship Technician, Erin Mallon. Erin is available to meet with private landowners residing within the Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System area to provide free on-site consultation, assist in developing habitat restoration projects and provide information on financial incentive opportunities. For more information please see: Free On-Site Consultation Services

Additionally, the Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System will be offering a series of workshops throughout the year on various topics related to stewardship on urban, suburban and rural properties. Topics include: Native Landscaping, Pollinator Gardens, Tackling Invasive Species and more. For more information please see: Workshops